An analysis of pedagogic research in physiotherapy education

Abstract

Purpose: The focus of this retrospective review paper is to
explore and analyse pedagogic research development in physiotherapy education in South Africa.

Methods: A content analysis of publications by educators in the SA Journal of Physiotherapy between 1989 and 2003 was conducted to identify and classify the pedagogic articles. Further analysis of physiotherapy education articles was performed to determine the primary foci of the education research, using a three- dimensional
pedagogic outcomes research framework.

Data analysis: Descriptive statistics in terms of frequencies, means and percentages was used for the analysis.

Results: The results revealed that most of the educators’ articles focused on clinical practice. Only 23% of the articles were about education and the majority of those were on clinical education (72%), with few articles on curriculum issues and teaching methods.

Conclusion: The research focus of South African Physiotherapy educators is more on the clinical practice, and not on education. The importance of linking research, clinical practice and education cannot be overemphasized, hence the need to develop research in education.